The Audience

Seven days passed.

Asmo never returned to Earth.

From the Throne, he watched the universe as though it were an endless game.

The Throne existed outside ordinary space.

Time flowed differently there.

A single hour inside could become an entire day elsewhere.

Every battle.

Every war.

Every decision.

Nothing escaped his sight unless he chose not to see it.

He quickly grew bored.

"The same battle."

"The same ending."

"The same mistakes."

The Crown answered.

War repeats itself.

Every civilization believes it is different.

Every civilization reaches the same conclusion.

Violence.

Asmo leaned against the side of the throne.

"So the universe never learns."

No.

"It really is boring."

Silence returned.

...

Earth.

The disappearance of the golden-haired young man had become humanity's greatest mystery.

The government officially denied his existence.

Every leaked video was declared fabricated.

Few believed them.

Too many people had witnessed him floating above Helios City.

The internet gave him dozens of names.

The Golden One.

The Floating King.

The Man Above Heaven.

None were correct.

His real name remained classified.

Only the highest-ranking officials knew it.

Asmo Deuz.

...

General Marcus Hale entered the Sacred Hall.

The chamber was one of the oldest places on Earth.

At its center stood the Twelve Sacred Artifacts.

For over three hundred years they had remained completely silent.

Until now.

Each artifact glowed faintly.

Not with power.

With unease.

Professor Wells slowly approached one of them.

"It has been a week."

"They still haven't calmed down."

Marcus looked at the twelve floating relics.

"Can they communicate?"

"They never have."

The moment he finished speaking...

One artifact suddenly released a pulse of blue light.

Then another.

Within seconds all twelve resonated together.

A deep sound echoed throughout the chamber.

Almost like...

A heartbeat.

The professor stepped backward.

"They're reacting again."

Marcus frowned.

"To what?"

Before anyone could answer...

Every artifact turned toward the ceiling.

Toward the sky.

Toward something far beyond Earth.

...

The Throne.

Asmo slowly opened his eyes.

"I felt that."

The Crown replied.

The Twelve seek permission.

"Permission?"

To exist.

Asmo laughed quietly for the first time.

It wasn't loud.

It wasn't mocking.

Just amused.

"They're asking me whether they're allowed to continue existing."

Yes.

He looked toward the endless darkness surrounding the Throne.

"Then let them."

The invisible pressure filling the dimension vanished.

Far away...

The Twelve Sacred Artifacts immediately returned to normal.

Professor Wells stared in disbelief.

"The reaction..."

"It stopped."

Marcus slowly looked upward.

"He's alive."

...

Far beyond the Solar System.

An enormous silver flagship exited hyperspace.

It was nearly twenty kilometers long.

Behind it followed thousands of warships.

None carried their weapons openly.

Every cannon remained inactive.

Every shield remained lowered.

This was not an invasion fleet.

It was a royal escort.

On the bridge stood a woman with silver hair reaching her waist.

She wore black armor decorated with crimson symbols.

Her crimson eyes never left the blue planet ahead.

"So..."

"This is Earth."

An officer approached.

"Your Majesty."

"We have entered the Solar System."

"Shall we continue?"

The woman shook her head.

"No."

"Not until we receive permission."

The officer looked confused.

"Permission from humanity?"

She slowly closed her eyes.

"Not humanity."

"Him."

...

Inside the Throne.

Asmo rested with his chin supported by one hand.

He had already noticed the fleet.

"I suppose they finally arrived."

Do you wish to meet them?

"No."

The Crown remained silent.

Asmo watched the silver flagship through a window of golden light.

Thousands of powerful beings waited.

None dared move.

None dared advance.

Interesting.

"They're patient."

The Crown answered.

They fear the Throne.

Asmo looked away.

"They may wait."

"If they lose patience..."

"They were never worth meeting."

...

Three days passed.

The alien fleet remained motionless.

Not a single ship advanced.

Not a single weapon activated.

Humanity had already detected them.

Panic spread across every government.

Emergency meetings continued without pause.

No one understood why the alien fleet simply waited.

General Marcus Hale looked toward the tactical display.

"They've been there for seventy-two hours."

"No attack."

"No communication."

Professor Wells quietly answered.

"They're waiting for someone."

Marcus sighed.

"I know."

"But who?"

Before anyone could continue...

Every monitor suddenly turned black.

Golden letters slowly appeared.

LET THEM ENTER.

Marcus immediately stood.

"Asmo..."

The message continued.

THEY HAVE COME TO SEE ME.

NOT YOU.

Seconds later...

The displays returned to normal.

The room remained silent.

One officer whispered.

"He's talking to us..."

Marcus shook his head.

"No."

"We're only listening."

...

Above the Moon.

The silver-haired empress suddenly opened her eyes.

A golden doorway appeared before her flagship.

No alarms activated.

No energy readings existed.

It simply appeared.

The officer stepped back in fear.

"Your Majesty..."

"I think..."

"He has answered."

The empress smiled faintly.

"For the first time in ten thousand years..."

"I have been granted an audience."

Without hesitation, she walked toward the golden doorway alone.

Leaving behind her entire fleet.

The doorway closed behind her.

Silence returned to space.

Meanwhile, far beyond reality itself...

Asmo remained seated upon the Throne.

He didn't move.

He didn't stand.

He simply waited.

For the first visitor who had been allowed to enter his domain.

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***